Combination statement and check and method of making a negotiable check

ABSTRACT

A statement includes an overlay check detachably connected thereto along a fold line. The check overlay is folded into overlapping relationship on the statement and an end guide flap extends upwardly adjacent the end of the check overlay. A complete check form is placed between the check overlay and the statement against the end flap and fold line. The overlay is pressed into engagement with the check form to permanently bond the two adhesively together. The check overlay includes in machine readable indicia amount, date, payer and payee information and the complete check form has payer account identification and check form number exposed. The assembled check is separated from the statement by the check overlay being torn along the fold line. The check overlay may include a detachable marginal portion which includes the payer&#39;&#39;s account identification and check number such that the check overlay becomes a complete check in and of itself and needs no separate check form.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,790,193 McBride 1 Feb. 5, 1974 COMBINATIONSTATEMENT AND CHECK Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles AND METHOD OFMAKING A Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee & Thomte NEGOTIABLECHECK [76] Inventor: Robert L. McBride, 1300 [571 ABSTRACT Woodhollow,Houston, Tex. 77027 A statement includes an overlay check detachablyconnected thereto along a fold line. The check overlay [22] Ffled' 1971is folded into overlapping relationship on the state- [21] Appl. No.:192,230 ment and an end guide flap extends upwardly adjacent the end ofthe check overlay. A complete check form laced between the check overlayand the statement 521 US. Cl 283/57 283/58 235/61.12 R

against the end flap and fold line. The overlay IS [51] Int Cl n B42d15[()0 pressed into engagement with the check form to p [58]FreldofSearch ..283/57 58 235/6l.12 R, m e, a V. H

235/61 i M 61 12 N manently bond the two adhesively together. The icheck overlay includes in machine readable indicia amount, date, payerand payee information and the [56] References Cted complete check formhas payer account identification UNITED STATES PATENTS and check formnumber exposed. The assembled 1,946,751 2/ 1934 McCarthy 283/58 check isseparated from the statement by the check 2,985,464 5/1961 McFarland283/58 overlay being torn along the fold line. The check over- 3,363,9l7l/ 1968 Gunderson et a1. 283/58 l may i l d a d h bl i l portion hi a;a??? includes the payers account identification and check 1e number suchthat the check overlay becomes a complete check in and of itself andneeds no separate check form.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures COMBINATION STATEMENT AND CHECK AND METHODOF MAKING A NEGOTIABLE CHECK The business communities relationship withits customers in terms of sending statements and remitting payment hasremained substantially the same for many years. Each customer uponreceipt of a bill or statement completes his personal check takinginformation from the statement. The date, payees name, check amount andpayers signature are written in on the check form by the customer.

The combination statement and check and method of making a negotiablecheck of this invention involves substantially having the check preparedby the payee in machine readable indicia such that the customer onlyneeds to fill in the date and sign his name to the check. A statement issupplied to the customer with a check overlay detachably secured along afold line. The check overlay includes the payees name and check dollaramount leaving only the signing and the dating of the check for thecustomer. The customers conventional check form is placed between thestatement and the check overlay against the end flap and fold line.Backing paper on the bottom of the check overlay is removed exposingadhesive and thus the check overlay is pressed into permanent bondedengagement with the check form. The check overlay is then severed fromthe statement leaving a statement for the customers records and acompleted check ready to be mailed back to the payee.

Alternatively, the check attached to the statement can include amarginal portion having the check numher and customers accountidentification thereon. The marginal portion would be detachablyconnected to the check overlay such that the check overlay with themarginal portion could function as a complete check thus not requiring aconventional check form. The use of the conventional check form allowsthe customer to retain consecutive numbering of his checks and avoidsthe requirement that the payee know the customers bank account number. Afurther optional arrangement is to have the check overlay include thepayees name and the dollar amount information on transparent materialsuch that the remaining information is seen through the check overlay onthe conventional check form secured to and under the check overlay.

The use of the check system of this invention will expedite thepreparing of the check by the customer, the processing of the check bythe transfer banks and the reconciling of the payment by the payee.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the statement and check overlay as prepared by thepayee and received by the customer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the statement and check overlayfolded into overlapping relationship to receive a conventional checkform therebetween for bonding the check overlay to the conventionalcheck form;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the statement and checkoverlay functioning as a indexing device allowing the check overlay tobe bonded to the conventional check form;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the assembled check comprising a check overlaybonded to a conventional check form;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the check overlay functioning as a completecheck in and of itself; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a return mailing envelope having a windowtherein for exposing the payees name and address on the check overlay.

As seen in FIG. 1, a statement 10 is detachably connected along a foldline 12 to a check overlay 14. The statement 10 includes an end flap 16,as seen in FIG. 3, which is positioned adjacent the overlay 14 when inoverlapping relationship on the statement such that it functions as anindexing device, as seen in FIG. 2, to receive a conventional check form18. The overlay check 14 includes a marginal portion detachablyconnected to the check overlay 14 along a separation line 22. Themarginal portion 20 includes a space 24 for a check number and a lowermarginal space for the payers bank account number 26.

It is seen in FIG. 1 that the check overlay l4 and margin portion 20, aspresented to the customer, require only the date blank 28 and payeessignature line 30 be filled in to provide a negotiable instrument.

The customer, upon receipt of the combined statement and check overlay,will insert his check 18 between the two, as seen in FIG. 2, up againstthe end guide flap l6 and the fold line 12 such that the check number 32and the bank identification number 34 are exposed. The marginal portion20 is previously removed when the customers personal check is used withthe overlay 14, as seen in FIGS. 2 4. Adhesive is provided on the backof the check overlay 14 and backing material is then removed to exposethe adhesive to the check 18 such that the two may be bonded together toprovide a negotiable check 35, as seen in FIG. 4. Thus it is seen thatthe check overlay 14 of FIG. 1 provides the amount, date, payer andpayee information, while the customers personal check 18 supplies thecheck number 32 and the bank account identification information 34. Amarginal edge 36 on the check form 18 extends along opposite ends andthe bottom side of the negotiable check 35.

An optional procedure is to utilize the marginal portion 20 extendingaround the ends and lower side of the check overlay 14, thus requiringthe customer to only fill in the date space 28 and the signature line 30and then sever the negotiable check 40 from the statement 10, as seen inFIG. 5. The customer may, additionally, place a check number 42 in theupper right-hand corner space 24. The separation line 22 and the foldline 12 are each perforated to facilitate separation of adjacent parts.v

Finally, the negotiable checks and having the payees name and addresspretyped thereon may be placed into an envelope having a window 52 thusmaking it unnecessary to address the envelope. If a stamp is provided bythe payee the customer need only seal the flap to complete thecheck-writing transaction.

If desired, the check overlay 14 may have the dollar amount and payeesname and address located such that it will overlie the appropriateblanks on a conventional check form 18 such that the check overlay maybe made from transparent material allowing the information on the checkform 18 to be visible.

It is seen that bank processing of the check could be expedited if thepayees account number identification on the check is utilized. Machinereading of the check would allow automatic crediting of the payeesaccount while debiting the payers account. Using conventionalbookkeeping methods and the preprinted check of this invention willfacilitate reconciling the customers payment with the statement he hasbeen sent since the face of the check includes information concerninghis account balance.

I claim: 1. The method of making a check comprising, taking a statementhaving a check overlay detachably connected thereto along a fold line,folding said check overlay into overlapping relationship onto saidstatement such that an end guide flap extends upwardly adjacent the endof said check overlay, placing a complete check form between saidstatement and said check overlay with one end and the top side of saidcheck form engaging said guide flap and said fold line respectively,

applying pressure to said check overlay to cause said check overlay tobe adhesively secured to said check form, and

severing from said statement said check overlay and check form bondedtogether.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said check overlay includes amount,date, and payer and payee information and said check form includes thepayers account identification and check number exposed outside of saidcheck overlay.

3. The method of claim 2 including the step of signing and dating saidcheck overlay prior to negotiating said check.

1. The method of making a check comprising, taking a statement having acheck overlay detachably connected thereto along a fold line, foldingsaid check overlay into overlapping relationship onto said statementsuch that an end guide flap extends upwardly adjacent the end of saidcheck overlay, placing a complete check form between said statement andsaid check overlay with one end and the top side of said check formengaging said guide flap and said fold line respectively, applyingpressure to said check overlay to cause said check overlay to beadhesively secured to said check form, and severing from said statementsaid check overlay and check form bonded together.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said check overlay includes amount, date, and payer andpayee information and said check form includes the payer''s accountidentification and check number exposed outside of said check overlay.3. The method of claim 2 including the step of signing and dating saidcheck overlay prior to negotiating said check.